Building the New Wood Shop #1: Planning

I started thinking about building a new wood shop back in early February. One night while i was working down in my finished basement little work shop and I had just finished making a bunch of cuts with the table saw and looked up to see that the room was filled with sawdust and then i looked down and seen the air intake vent for the furnace. I thought to myself this is it. I can’t keep going on like this. I MUST BUILD A PROPER WOOD SHOP!!! And so the planning began. I read books on framing walls and trusses and roofing and siding and wiring and then i sat down and came up with my 15 page propasal for the city to get the Permit. I wouldn’t doubt it but there is propably just as much time spent in the design and planning stage as there will be in actually building.

-- People who say it cannot be done should not interup those who are doing it

congrtas on the shop plan, there are plenty of lumber jocks here to help with advice…just ask and take notes and then you will of coarse have sleepless nights, as you lay there building it in your head..and projects you will make….a very exciting event….when i built mine i knew i wanted a certain size..not to big and not to small….if its a hobby..then you dont need a huge shop if you plan it right….and if its going to be a one man shop then that figures into it also…..mine is 20×30 with 10 foot walls and open rafters, as i live in the south and really dont need it insulated..however it would be nice for cooling it…but that would run a big bill ..well have fun and make sure its how ya want it..its a pain to go back after the fact…..grizzman

Wow lucky you, there is no way I could get away with building one on the lot I’m on. I know a guy who built a shop near you, on Gould Cres. last year. He is a great guy and I’m sure would be happy to share his experiences with you. Let me know if you want to talk to him.

the shop will be 24 X 18 ft with 10 ft walls. It will have two man doors and a 9×7 ft roll up door. There will be 1 16 inch high by 96 inch long window at the 6 ft mark facing the neighbours house and two 4×4 ft windows facing into the yard. The roof has a 5 -12 pitch which will be shingled and will have a 14 inch whirley gig to suck out all the hot air. The whole shop will be insulated for our cold Northern winters. and will be heated by a 8 ft radiant gas heater in the winter. I plan to finish the inside walls with plywood painted white, that makes it nicer for hanging and screwing things to the wall. I havent planned out the inside yet but that will come soon.

-- People who say it cannot be done should not interup those who are doing it

I have a 1900’s carriage house timber frame (20×32) laying in my driveway that I am thinking of reconstructing into my shop. I have some of the siding and many of the rough sawn floor planks will make great rafters. Just need the motivation to reconstruct it. I disassembled it from it’s site and moved it to my house in a Budget truck. I am only in for the cost of the truck ($98.00) as the former owner “just wanted it out of there”